HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP INC

Business operations consist of four reporting segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other.

Our strategy, which focuses on the independent agency distribution channel, supports THG’s commitment to our select independent agents. It is designed to generate profitable growth by leveraging the strengths of our distribution approach, including expansion of our agency footprint in underpenetrated geographies, as warranted. As part of that strategy, we have increased our capabilities in specialty markets and made investments designed to develop growth solutions for our agency distribution channel that meet the needs of our customers. Our goal is to grow responsibly in all of our businesses, while managing volatility.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, our net income was $258.1 million, compared to a net loss of $72.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an improvement of $330.7 million. This favorable change was primarily due to higher after-tax operating income.

Operating income before interest expense and income taxes (a non-GAAP financial measure; see also “Results of Operations – Consolidated – Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) was $395.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to an operating loss of $52.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an improvement of $448.2 million. This increase was primarily due to lower catastrophe losses, improvements in current accident year underwriting results, primarily in our Personal Lines segment, and, to a lesser extent, higher net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves and higher net investment income. Pre-tax catastrophe losses were $349.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $632.4 million during the same period of 2023, a decrease of $282.5 million. The catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2024 were primarily due to several convective storms across multiple states, with wind and hail damage representing the majority of reported losses, primarily in the Midwest, and, to a lesser extent, the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Beryl. The higher catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2023 were primarily due to several convective storms across multiple states, particularly in the Midwest, with hail and wind damage representing the majority of reported losses, primarily impacting our Personal Lines business. The lower Personal Lines current accident year losses were primarily due to the benefit of earned pricing outpacing loss trends in both personal automobile and homeowners lines, and moderated loss trends, particularly in automobile collision coverages.

Net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves was $41.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $35.0 million.

Core Commercial includes two businesses, small commercial and middle market, both of which focus on account business, including coverage for commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation and other (monoline general liability, ancillary professional, commercial umbrella, and monoline property). Small commercial focuses on small businesses, with annual policy premiums generally up to $50,000. Middle market provides coverage to mid-sized businesses with annual policy premiums generally between $50,000 and $500,000. Middle market offers coverage in distinct industry segments, including technology, manufacturing, human services, retail, and real estate, among others. We believe that our account-focused approach to the small commercial market and distinctiveness in the middle market, including our diversified portfolio of products, delivers significant value to agents and policyholders. We continue to pursue our core strategy of developing strong relationships with retail agents, enhancing franchise value through selective distribution, distinctive products and coverages, and through continued investment in products for additional industry segmentation.

Net premiums written increased 3.3% in the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by renewal price increases, partially offset by lower retention driven by underwriting actions. Operating income before interest expense and income taxes increased in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to lower catastrophe losses and higher net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves. The competitive nature of the Core Commercial market requires us to be highly disciplined in our underwriting process to ensure that we write business at acceptable margins, and we continue to seek rate increases across many lines of business.

Specialty offers a comprehensive suite of products focused predominately on small to mid-sized businesses. This includes numerous specialized product areas that are organized into four distinct divisions – Professional and Executive Lines, Specialty Property and Casualty (“Specialty P&C”), Marine, and Surety and Other. We believe that this diverse set of Specialty products, distributed primarily through retail agents, supplemented by select specialists, helps to enhance our overall agent value and increase growth opportunities by providing agents easier access to placement solutions for Specialty needs, including those that complement Core Commercial accounts.

Net premiums written increased 5.4% in the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to renewal price increases. Operating income before interest expense and income taxes increased in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to lower current accident year losses and higher net investment income, partially offset by higher expenses and lower favorable development. The competitive nature of the Specialty market requires us to be highly disciplined in our underwriting process to ensure that we write business at acceptable margins, and we continue to seek rate increases across many lines of business.

Personal Lines focuses on working with high quality, value-oriented agencies that deliver consultative selling to customers and stress the importance of account rounding, which is the conversion of single policy customers to accounts with multiple policies and/or additional coverages, to address customers’ broader needs and objectives. Approximately 88% of our policies in force (“PIF”) have been issued to customers with multiple policies and/or coverages with us. We are focused on seeking profitable growth opportunities, building a distinctive position in the market in order to meet our customers’ needs, and diversifying geographically. We continue to seek appropriate rate increases that meet or exceed underlying loss cost trends, subject to regulatory and competitive considerations.

Net premiums written increased 3.6% in the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to renewal price increases, partially offset by decreased new business and lower retention. Operating income before interest expense and income taxes improved in the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to lower catastrophe losses, improvements in current accident year underwriting results, and favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves.